Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

- Round 5 MOTOCROSS May 1,2004 FIM World MXI /MX2 Motocross Championship MY OWN RACE 7 Cedric Melotte 3rd (MX I) Melotte has been the real darlkhorse of the MX I class and will remain a threat as long as he wishes. "The track was really fast today, and it was a lot of work to come back to the front , including a lot of risks," Melotte said. " Inthe first mota, I came close to Brian [jorgensen] but he was making a strong race, and I was also thinking to the second race . I had a bad start but came back fifth in the second mota, and I'm happy with these results, as I'm on the podium today. For sure I'd like to be on the highest step for my so n Matteo , who born last Sunday we 'll see later this seaso n." 22 Claudio Federici 3rd (MX2) The Italian Federici rode great and can loo k toward steady improvement as the series heads to some of the hard-pack circuits. "I had a great feelingwith t his trac k; it looks like Italy here," he said. "It's great to be back on the podium. This winte r I had a knee operation, and fo r examp le Iw as unable to do the second race last week inValkenswaard. Inthe first heat Imade a wrong choice of tire, and in the second one I was afraid not to have enough condition to finish the race. Finally after 20 minutes my shape was good , and I was able to push, but I made two mistakes in the last laps, and Maschio kept the seco nd place." t he mot a and t he Grand Prix overall. Fed erici pushed hard to fi nish t hird right be hind Maschio. Sw o rd was over the moon w ith his victory. ';'\fte r the first mot a I knew I could ride better," Sword said. "My ankle hasn't been bothe ring me this w eekend. The gro und is hard and not so many ruts to catch it in. I t ried for the holeshot , but I came out third or fourth - much like the first race. De Re uver made a mistake on the fi rst jump and we nt down, but I was clear of that. I picked off a few riders. Chiodi made a mistake, and I moved up, but I t hought Tow nley was long gone ahead of Maschio. I came over a jump and saw Tow nley on the gro und. He looked like he could get back into the race , but I had no idea if I'd be able to take the champio nship off him today. Mickael was leading, but his lines weren't smooth, and I got aro und him. Whe n he was be hind, I thought that he'd try and make a co meb ack and go for the overall win; he'd had a sec o nd in race o ne. I felt com fortab le and just kept my head down. Mickae l told me that he' d chosen the wrong tire. My bike was fine , and it was hoo king up and sticking to the slippery stuff. W hen I watc hed his lines, it was in the back of my mind t hat he might just wa nt to take off the pressure from me and drop back to wa tch my lines; he could have then come back at me in t he final few laps. I managed to pull a litt le gap, and then it was quite nice not to have someone right on my tailpipe. I the n had more time to co ncentrate on picking my lines." Maschio was happy w ith second, and he knows now th at his speed is returning after a poo r first few roun ds in th e MX2 championship. "I'm glad with my fi rst pod ium of the seas o n," Maschio said. "It has bee n difficult fo r me so far. I had some technical problems earlier this yea r. It's the first time we 34 are working o n a four-stroke , and it takes time to fi nd the right setup. I proved today that my motivat io n is always good , and I think that I could have won the GP without a sma ll problem in the second mota." eN TALKESSEL CIRCUIT T EUTSCHENTHAL, G ERMANY R ESULIS: MAy 1, 2004 (ROUND 5 OF 16) 31 MX I MOTa ONE: I. Brian Jorgensen (Han); 2. Cedric Melotte (Yam); 3. Stefan Eve rts (Y ); 4. Steve am Ramon (KTM); 5. Joel Smets (5uz); 6 . J"'" Cccpms (Ho n); 7. Mamicq Bervoets (Yam); 8. Kenneth Gundersen (KTM); 9. Ken De D ijcker (Han ); 10. Mick.a.el Pichon (Han); I I. Tanel Leak (Suz); 12. Javier VICO Garda (Han); 13. Danny Theybers (Yam); 14. luigi Seguy (Yam); 15. Thomas Traversini (Han ). MX I MOTO TWO: I. Brian Jorgensen (Han) ; 2. Ste fan Eve rts (Y am); 3. Joel Smets (Suz) ; 4. Josh Coppins (Han ); 5. Cedric Melo ne (Yam); 6. Steve Ramon (KTM); 7. Marnicq Bervoets (Yam); 8. Kevin Strijbos(Suz 9. Mickael ); Pichon (Han); 10. Tanel Leak (Suz); I I . Javier Garcia (Han ); 12. Col lin Dugmore (Han ); 13. Danny Theybers (Y am); 14. Luigi Seguy (Yarn); IS. Chris Burnham (KTM). MXI 0 /'" I. 8rian J~ (50); 2. Stefan Everts (42); 3. Cedric Melo n e (38); 4. Joel Srrets (36); 5. J"'" Cooons (33); 6. Steve Ramon (33); 7. t- tarn Bervoets lcq (28 ); 8. M;ckae! Pichon (23); 9. Tarel Leok (2 1); 10. jav;eo' VICO Garcia ( 19). FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSH IP MX I SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 of 16 ro unds ): I. Stefan Eve rts (2 1812wins); 2. Cedric Melone ( 18811 win); 3. Steve Ramon ( 162); 4. M;ckae! PKhon( 15011win); 5.Jo;h Copp

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